Written question asked by Alison McGovern (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 March 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 10 March 2011. It was answered by Robert Neill (Conservative) on Thursday, 17 March 2011 on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Northwest Regional Development Agency

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has made an assessment of the (a) cost to the public purse and (b) effect on employment levels in the North West of the transfer to the Department for Communities and Local Government of the North West Regional Development Agency's European regional development fund management support function.

Answer: The transfer of this function is governed by the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice on Staff Transfers in the Public Sector 2000 (COSOP) which provides rights for the transfer of the existing staff. All those who work for at least half their time on the European Regional Development Fund will transfer to the Department for Communities and Local Government. The precise costs and employment impacts were assessed on this basis, and will become clearer post transition.

Secondary information